Northampton duo Tom Wood and Phil Dowson make strong cases for Six Nations inclusion with England

England team manager Martin Johnson will announce injury replacements for Tom
Croft and Courtney Lawes on Monday and based on statistics, he should call
up Northampton Saints duo Tom Wood and Phil Dowson.

According to the Amlin Opta Index, which uses mathematical formulas and modelling to compare player performances in the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup, Wood and Dowson are both in the top 10 forwards in the competition.

Wood and Dowson's Northampton team-mate Ben Foden is already bedded in the England side at full-back but he has not let standards slip, ending round four of the Heineken Cup as the best performing No 15.

Speaking on the data, former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio said: "Northampton are well represented in Europe, and Ben Foden put in yet another quality performance at the highest level."